Process and composition for treating natural and artificial fibers



P tented I Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES ATENT orrl'cr.

PnocEss AND COMPOSITION FOR. TREAT- ING NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FIBERS No Drawing. Application March 3, 1936, Serial No. 66,967. In Germany March 12, 1935 2 Claims. (CI, 1968) This invention relates to the treatment of natural and artificial fibers composed principally of cellulose or of cellulosic origin. More particularly the present invention contemplates softening and finishing cellulosic fibers to produce an increased and. superior suppleness and fiexibility in the thread. In order to properly condition threads of both natural and artificial origin for weaving and knit ting purposes, it is necessary to subject the thread to numerous handling operations which necessitate employing a protective medium; and during knitting and weaving stages the friction on the thread must be reduced to a minimum while at the same time a high degree of pliability is desired. I

It is known to apply certain oily and fatty compositions to threads for lubrication purposes to thereby decrease the friction between the threads themselves and between the threads and mechanical parts with which they come in contact. However, prior to the present invention, it has been impossible simultaneously to effect the desired amount of suppleness in the thread. The basic reason why the oils and fats formerly employed did not improve the suppleness of the threads to a veryhigh degree is not: completely known. However, it appears reasonable to assume that the reason resides in the chemical 3o properties'of the oil and the cellulose. Cellulosic compositions are strongly hydrophilic, i. e., capable of absorbing moisture, whereas the oils are hydrophobic, i. e., will not absorb moisture to such a marked extent. For this reason its seems 5 evident that fibers' consisting of cellulose only absorb oils or fats to a small extent. When'such hydrophilic fibers are treated with the hydrophobic oils then the oils are primarily held in the form of a film on the outside of the fibers and 10 are absorbed into the body of the fibers to a very slight degreeonly. F It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide a process for softening and finishing cellulosic fibers having a highdegree of sup- 45 pleness and pliability.

A further 'object of the invention is to treat threads and the like with a composition which will reduce the frictional contact on the thread to a 50 impartingto the threads the desired properties.

Other objects and advantages willbe apparent by referring to The invention further contemplates the utilization of an improved and novel composition for,

It has now been determined that an improved process and product is produced if fibers consistlng essentially of cellulose are impregnated with a finishing agent having both hydrophobic and, hydrophilic properties. These combined properties render the thread treated therewith both pliable and less frictionable. Finishing agents having the necessary prerequisites have now been found to be the partly saponifled esters of polyvalent alcohols and higher fatty acids which still contain free hydroxyl groups.

For example, those compositions may be mentioned having more'than eight carbon atoms, although in some .cases this may not be essential. These esters con- .tain unesterified hydroxyl groups which-groups are hydrophilic and accordingly impart an in creased suppleness to the thread while the lubricating properties are in no way impaired. The

monoand diglycerides of higher fatty acids have been found to be particularly adaptable to the presentinvention, as they haveinaddition to the aforementioned advantages, the'property of emulsifying readily in water without the addition of emulsifying agents per se. This property renders the thread or fabric manufactured therefrom susceptible to subsequent simple treatments whereby the composition is easily removed without the usual extensive scouring operations.

Examples of the specific materials which may hydrides with polyvalent alcohols, by double decomposition of chlorhydrins with fatty acid salts, byheating natural triglycerides with polyvalent alcohols or their alkvl ethers with more than one. free hydroxyl group (with or without the addition of a catalyzer), or by fractionated saponi-' fication of glycerides. :In addition to the materials mentioned above, combined fatty acids of the type oxy-fatty acids may be employed such as acetyl ricinoleic fatty acids which contain esterified hydroxyl groups. Other oxy-fatty. acids. adaptable for use are estoliden fatty acids, fatty acids: of blown oils, polymerized fatty acids, and fatty acids with sev-. eral carboxyl groups.

All of the materials mentioned above may be used in emulsion form or dissolved in the proper solvents. They can also be used in various co nbinations with the fats, waxes, mineral oils, soaps,

sulphonated products, et cetera.

Example 1.Natural or artificial fibers consisting essentially of cellulose are immersed in an aqueous emulsion which contains 5% glycerine mixture of acetone' -and suflicient water to pro-- duce a homogeneous solution. The oil is prepared by heating 100 parts olive oil and 22 parts glycerine in a vacuum to 175 C. until the product has a. saponification member of approximately 155. If desired, a catalyzer may be employed.

The yarn, having been dressed, is centrifuged and dried in the usual manner.

The above examples are given merely to specify improved compositions to be employed in the present process and it is to be understood that they do not limit the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. A process for softening and finishing cellulose fibers comprising treating said fibers with a dilute aqueous acetone solution of glycerine mono-palmitate mono-oleate.

2. A process for softening and finishing cellulose fibers comprising treating said fibers with a 3% aqueous acetone solution of glycerine monopalmitate mono-oleate.

' THEODOOR KOCH. 

